June Shafhid's Community Chapel
Experience

I found your website and I am glad you have done so
and offered encouragement and help to those that have been spiritually abused.
I am a victim of spiritual abuse three times. Neither my husband or I attend
a church now. We simply do not trust the 'system' anymore and fear the pain
we might find again. We love Jesus with our entire being. Through our ordeal
of spiritual abuse we now 'see' and thank God for the sight that He has given
us and the wisdom His Spirit has revealed to us through His Word.

I was not involved in the church you came out of.
In 1979 I got involved in a huge non-denominational charismatic church called
"Community Chapel." I attended Bible college there for five years and
had many friends and ministries. My whole life revolved around this church
and I had no idea I was being 'brainwashed' into a cult.

We were told what to wear, what to eat, what to watch
on tv, what bookstores to buy from, who to date, when to date, and of course
our hair was to be long and not cut in some short style. The church preached
on submission to the wives ( I was married), and the husbands were exhorted
to take their 'spiritual headship' in the home.

My marriage, as was all the marriages in Community
Chapel, were pressured to perform beyond what we were capable of doing. I
had prayer meetings and ministries and college classes....every night of
the week. We were threatened to be left out of church activities and publicly
denounced if we did not tithe. Those that disagreed with the pastor about
any subject were publicly denounced as 'rebellious sinners' and put out of
the church.

I was one of those 'deceived and rebellious people'
when seven years later the church fell into a horrendous spiritual holocaust
that destroyed my marriage along with over 200 other marriages. I escaped
but not without severe emotional and spiritual damage.

This church was into esoteric experiences and prioritized
them over the Word of God. We were taught to walk by 'feelings' and not by
'faith.' Needless to say, satanic and occultic experiences began to be embraced
as being 'moves of God' sent by the Holy Spirit. I can attest that they indeed
were 'angels of light' and very deceptive. I believed the lie and found myself
engrossed in a false doctrine that almost destroyed my life.

It was called, "spiritual connections." This doctrine
was not formed by man. It was formed by Satan. A beguiling force of love
began to move between church members during worship in the dance. The 'force'
was like a beam of energy that moved from one person's eyes to another person's
eyes. Once the spell ignited between the two dancers, they found themselves
thrown into a supernatural sphere of glorious ecstasy, well beyond a normal
earthly love.

That love-spell did not end with the dance. It actually
seemed to bond the two people together in an ethereal high potent love--I
cannot even describe it. But when it happened to me, I could not eat or sleep
for weeks...I was simply love-sick for this other man that I did not know.
I wanted him, to be with him, to kiss him, to hold him, to cherish him...and
to have sex with him.

The love-hex worked between those of the same sex,
but mostly between members of the opposite sex. Entire marriages were ripped
apart as the pastor ordered us to 'jump into this new move of God or be eternally
damned.' He told us to get delivered from insecurity and jealousy and release
our mates to their 'spiritual connection.'

Now this church was huge-over 2000 people with satellite
churches all over the US and some in Europe. This false doctrine spread to
all the satellite churches as well (except the one in Greece. Praise God
they stood against the deception and broke away). The 'love' turned sour
soon enough and I began to seek the Lord about what was happening to my marriage.

My husband had 'connected' with a pretty woman and
moved out of our house and in with her. The church counseled me that it was
my fault because I was not 'releasing' him and letting God do the work in
him through his new connection. I had a nervous breakdown and felt like I
was in hell. This letter cannot explain all the details, but I did escape
almost a year later and some friends that had left a year earlier rescued
me. I had been in that church seven years.

It took five years to find my sense of Christian balance.
I poured through scripture and decided to gain back my will and my sound
mind. I would never again let a man or church run or rule my life. I turned
back to Jesus and the true Gospel. I am an advocate for the truth. I do get
so angry at the false revivals that are fooling God's people today. That
same satanic 'spirit' is deceiving thousands of people with similar esoteric
experiences and false prophecies.

It has been twelve years since I left that church.
But, sad to say, the spiritual abuse did not end. I trusted two other churches
since then, and had to leave both because of the legalism and control they
tried to exert over my life.

I lost my first husband. He married his 'spiritual
connection.' But I am happily remarried to the most wonderful man now and
He adores the Lord. We both hope to someday start a ministry called "The
Healing Inn" where those wounded saints can come and just 'be' and 'rest'
without being pushed into a 'churchy' environment. We thought a BED and BREAKFAST
type place would be nice. I sure wish I had found a place like that when
I left. I was so bruised and messed up that I could not function like a normal
person. As I am sure you know, when you first leave an abusive place your
mind is troubled deeply.

Today, I still am scarred from the many abuses I have
endured. I never feel like I fit in...I feel lost and outside, a misfit.
Yet I know the truth now and I would go through it all again just to be able
to 'see' as I see now. The Lord used the pain and experience of abuse to
bring me out of deception and into truth. This I am ever thankful for. I
will never be able to feel comfortable in a church and I might never go
back...but I will always live my life for Jesus Christ and follow His Word.
This is my safety and my foundation.

Thanks for being an ear. Have a great day and God
bless you. My prayers are with your ministry.

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